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AFA NEWSROOM V10 No. 1, JAn. 1, 2015

hAPPY NEW YEAR 2015!

As we transition from 2014 into 2015, we give thanks for the wonderful things we enjoy as residents of the greatest nation on earth.

Here's hoping that 2015 brings peace, prosperity and joy to you, to our wonderful industry and to the world. Happy New Year!

Former Westvaco corp CEO David Luke has died

SPOKANE, Wash., David L. Luke III, whose almost 25 years as chief executive officer of Westvaco Corp. made him part of a still-unbroken six-generation chain of family members who have led the paper and chemicals company, now MeadWestvaco Corp. (MWV), has died. He was 91.

He died on Dec. 13 in New York City, according to the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, where he was a former chairman of the board. No cause was given.

Like most of us, the good folks at Forest2Market (F2M) took a break over the holidays, but not before closing the year with a list of 10 predictions for wood consuming industries in 2015, from Forest2Market's President and CEO, Pete Stewart.

Jackson, Mississippi - The Molpus Woodlands Group, LLC (Molpus), a timberland investment management organization (TIMO) headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, has announced, on behalf of a client, the successful purchase of approximately 130,659 acres in New York for approximately $57,500,000.

Future wood market Outlook

VANCOUVER BC – In WOOD MARKETS’ new five-year forecast, the good news is that North American and global economies as well as softwood lumber markets are forecast to continue expanding in 2015 and even faster in 2016 and 2017. At the same time, there is a continued tightening of the economic wood supply available from North America’s forests.

national green building standard approved for military housing in ndaa

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) applauds Congress for authorizing the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) for all military residential construction, which represents 16 percent of the federal real estate portfolio. Passed today by the Senate, and last week by the House, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will provide affordable choices in meeting military energy and water reduction goals.

UK biomass co-firing update

The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change is proposing to make changes to its Renewables Obligation for certain biomass facilities. According to the DECC, the proposed changes would mean that generators that carry out new conversions from coal to biomass or increase the levels of co-firing would no longer be covered by its policy to maintain their levels of support under the RO scheme. A consultation on the changes is open through Jan. 26.

Baldwin Commissioner calls epa ozone rule absurd, harmful

The following guest blog comes from Baldwin County (AL) Commissioner Tucker Dorsey.

"In recent weeks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it will pursue stricter standards for ground level ozone. Today, the standard for compliance is 75 parts per billion (ppb). If EPA has its way, the new standard will be between 65 ppb and 70 ppb. Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy has even stated that EPA will look at a standard as low as 60 ppb."

Global recovered paper demand to grow 2.5% per year until 2029

Though the recovered paper markets experienced volatility over the last few decades, growth has cooled in the last two years due to decelerating demand and slowing paper and board markets. World recovered paper consumption growth was down from 4% in last ten years to 1.7% per year in 2013.

Over the next five years, however, global
recovered paper demand is forecasted to re-accelerate alongside recovering paper and board markets. Developing regions will account for about 90% of this demand and seek recovered paper from developed regions, which are major suppliers of recovered paper. These trends and other findings were revealed in Outlook for Global Recovered Paper Markets, a new study by RISI, the
leading information provider for the global forest products industry.

FSA Newsletter for december 2014

For all the latest news from the Farm Services Administration (FSA), click here.

SFI® Board Welcomes Conservation, Economic Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Inc. (SFI) has strengthened its capacity to conserve North America’s forests with the election of three new members to its Board of Directors: Robert Abernethy, Craig Armstrong, and Gail Wallin.

Don't Forget About Our Books on Forestry

We now have two books that you can use to learn more about forestland management and the history of the forest products industry in Alabama. These books make outstanding gifts for birthdays, Christmas and any other gift-giving purpose. The book on the left, Green Gold: Alabama's Forests and Forest Industries, provides the first comprehensive history of forestry in Alabama, from when the Indians cleared forests for agriculture to the modern era.

The book on the right, Managing Forests on Private Lands in Alabama and the Southeast, is probably the best book every produced on managing forests for timber production and for preserving water and wildlife resources.

If you are interested in owning either or both of these books, contact Liz Chambers at (334) 481-2135 or lchambers@alaforestry.org.